SHERIFF JOHN MACON POAG - KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY -
APRIL 12, 1905
Tate County Sheriff's Office has two sheriff in it's history that were killed in the line of duty. On Wednesday, April 12, 1905 Sheriff John Macon Poag was shot and killed by a mob of masked men who entered his jail for the purpose of liberating a murder suspect. The sheriff's order that the men leave was met with a refusal, whereupon Sheriff John Poag fired, wounding one man. The mob returned fire killing the sheriff, and then left without the prisoner.
Eventually 13 men were charged with Sheriff Poag's murder. Newspapers of that day reported that most if not all escaped punishment. Sheriff Poag was 47 years old at the time of his death.
SHERIFF WILLIAM FRANKLIN BRAY - KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY - MARCH 20, 1898
March 20, 1898 Sheriff William Bray was killed and Deputy Sheriff Homer Gilmore dangerously wounded when an arguement began with Ashely Cocke, a prominent and wealthy planter of north Mississippi. Cocke emptied his pistol at Gilmore striking him three times. Cocke then walked across the street, reloading his pistol. Sheriff Bray, hearing the shooting, hastened to the scene and getting within a few feet of Cocke, drew his pistol and ordered Cocke to throw up his hands. Cocke yelled back at the sheriff not to come any further. Bray fired, but missed and then Cocke, took aim and shot the sheriff through the heart.
DEPUTY SHERIFF JEFF WALKER WILLIAMS - KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY - OCTOBER 16, 1932
Sunday, October 16, 1932 Deputy Sheriff Jeff Williams, 23, was shot and killed by a man he arrested for robbery at a home seven miles south of Senatobia. Just after the officer made the arrest the suspect grabbed Deputy Williams' pistol and shot him.
Deputy Williams' father, the Tate County Sheriff, organized a posse of more than 75 men who surrounded a nearby home where the suspect was thought to be hiding. When someone in the house opened fire the posse returned fire killing four men inside the home. The men, a father, his two sons, and his son-in-law were relatives of the suspect. The suspect was not there. He was captured in Memphis, Tennessee, December 13, 1932.
PHOTO AND INFORMATION
Any information that would assist us in providing accurate dates, photographs or terms of former sheriffs would be greatly appreciated. Please contact us so we may continue to share with our community.
Sheriff Josiah Dailey
1873 to 1874 |
Sheriff N. S. Love
1874 to 1874 |
Sheriff R. J. Carter
1874 to 1876 |
Sheriff J. E. Matthews
1876 to 1880 |
Sheriff W. B. Wright
1880 to 1882 |
Sheriff P.M.B. Wait
1882 to 1896 |
Sheriff W. F. Bray
1896 to 1898 |
Sheriff Berry B. Brooks
1900 to 1904 |
Sheriff J. M. Poag
1904 to 1905 |
Sheriff W.G. Cocke Sr.
1908 to 1912 |
Sheriff R.D. Williams
1912 to 1916 |
Sheriff J. A. Still
1916 to 1920 |
Sheriff R. D. Williams
1920 to 1924 |
Sheriff W.G. Cocke Sr.
1924 to 1928 |
Sheriff M.C. Campbell
1928 to 1929 |
Sheriff Lil Campbell
1929 to 1932 |
Sheriff C. A. Williams
1932 to 1936 |
Sheriff J. R. Quinn
1936 to 1940 |
Sheriff John Young
1940 to 1944 |
Sheriff L. E. Samuels
1944 to 1948 |
Sheriff W. W. Davis
1948 to 1952 |
Sheriff W. T. Freeman
1952 to 1956 |
Sheriff Joe Taylor
1956 to 1960 |
Sheriff E. M. Williams
1960 to 1964 |
Sheriff Albert Blair
1964 to 1968 |
Sheriff Joe W. Taylor
1968 to 1976 |
Sheriff Herbert McIver
1976 to 1984 |
Sheriff Shelton Ingram
1984 to 2008 |
John Macon Poag
New York Times Article |
Article on Sheriff
Campbell |
Sheriff M.C. Campbell
and Deputy Bud Ellis |
Sheriff M.C. Campbell
early years |
Mrs. M.C. "Lil" Campbell |
First Tate County Jail |
2nd Tate County Jail |
News article on arrest of
moonshiners |
Arrest includes 238
gallons of moonshine |
 |
Sheriff Pete Freeman
swearing in Joe Taylor
as Chief Deputy |
Tate County
Courthouse
Completed 1875 |
1959 Sheriff's Election |
Marlin Stanford
Tate County's 1st
D.A.R.E. Officer |
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2010 Tate County Patch |
